News in the Brief

Article
Sep 19, 2008

¦ Kuwait’s National Aviation Services (NAS), a provider of airport ground handling services to airlines at the Kuwait International Airport, announced that the company has successfully completed its EASA Audit conducted by the European Aviation Safety Agency, the leading aviation safety agency.

¦ Aviapartner Cargo has recently signed a major contract with Turkish Airlines covering its four online stations of Paris-CDG, Lyon, Nice, and Strasbourg and all offline stations in France — a total coverage of 14 airports including all national and trucking distribution. The contract, effective July 21, 2008, represents a total volume of about 10,000 tons per year. Aviapartner Cargo will provide Turkish Airlines with full cargo-handling services within the scope of this contract: warehousing, ULD build-up and breakdown, inventory control, documentation for import and export, customs clearance, tracing, and dangerous goods handling.

¦ Casper/Natrona County International Airport officials announced that Casper Area Economic Development Alliance (CAEDA) and the Economic Development Joint Powers Board (JPB) will each provide up to $25,000 to purchase ground support equipment for the airport’s use. The funds will be used to purchase a baggage tug, six baggage carts and one belt loader.

¦ AERO Specialties announced that following the European Business Aviation Association trade show in Geneva last May, the company has begun working with distributors throughout the European Union. Following EBACE, Bob McMichael, VP of sales & marketing at AERO, traveled extensively throughout Europe meeting with established GSE distributors who were eager to take on another quality product line. In addition to working directly with distributors, AERO expects to open a distribution center in the EU soon. AERO is currently evaluating distribution centers in Italy, France, The Netherlands and the UK.

¦ JBT AeroTech, formerly FMC Technologies, introduced the new B-1200 aircraft tow tractor for aircraft ranging from the B737/A320 to the B747. The B-1200 includes an all new body designed around a Tier III/COM 3 Cummins QSCB8.3 engine and Kessler axles, which are known for their heavy duty welded construction and durability. Customers can choose from a wide range of options such as air conditioning, lift cab, hydraulic jacking system and rear driver’s station.

¦ The DEUTZ Group announced it has significantly increased its revenue and unit sales in the first six months of 2008 compared with the corresponding period of last year. Revenue rose by 15 percent to €825.5 million (H1 2007: €717.7 million) on the back of the strong performance in Europe and continued growth in Asia. Unit sales advanced by 10.5 percent to 148,687 engines (H1 2007: 134,619). The improvement in revenue was one of the main reasons why earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rose by 7.9 percent to €43.6 million in the first half of 2008 (H1 2007: €40.4 million).

¦ Global Ground Support LLC recently received two separate orders for its model ER2875 “Extended Reach” Mobile Aircraft Deicer for deicing the Airbus A380. Two units will be delivered to a service provider at Heathrow Airport in London and another two units to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to a supplier who provides the deicing services for the Airbus A380 operated by Emirates. The ER2875 is the world’s tallest deicer, with a working height of 78 feet (24m), side reach of 58 feet (17.7m) and fluid capacity of 2800 gallons (10,584 liters). The ER2875 has been in production since 2002 with 40 units in service worldwide and 13 units scheduled for delivery in 2008/09.
Partnerships/Acquisitions/Contracts

¦ SMS Holdings, a provider of security and facility management services and parent company of PrimeFlight and FirstLine in the aviation realm, announced a major business expansion with the acquisition of Brantley Services of Louisville, Ky., according to Keith Wolken, chairman. The Brantley Services asset acquisition includes companies that have combined annual revenues exceeding $35 million and employ more than 1700 individuals nationwide: Brantley Security, a company that provides security services for office buildings, retailers, distribution facilities, and other clients; Block by Block, which provides cleaning and safety services to the Business Improvement Districts of more than 30 cities across the country; Brantley Usher, which is the provider of hosting and event management services at major sporting and entertainment events, such as the Kentucky Derby.

¦ National Aviation Services (NAS) has won the deal for a comprehensive security handling service to Delta Airlines. NAS will provide passenger, security, cargo and ramp handling for Delta Airlines at Kuwait International Airport. Delta Airlines will initially be operating four flights a week between Kuwait International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, USA.

¦ Representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh visited Sheffield to gain maintenance and systems training on the airport baggage handling systems supplied by Geo Robson & Co (Conveyors) Ltd of Darnall. Four visitors from ZIA International Airport, Dhaka, Bangladesh, took a tour of Robson’s recent installations including Gatwick, Heathrow and Birmingham airports. The systems training took place at Robson’s Sheffield factory, and included the electrical and mechanical installation, commissioning and maintenance of the system. Robson was recently awarded a contract to supply ZIA International Airport with two new state-of-the-art Friction Drive Baggage Carousels each 88 metres long, with the refurbishment and expansion of two more, expanding the original carousels from 66 meters to 88 meters.

¦ Delhi International Airport Ltd. has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply a baggage handling system for the new Terminal 3 at Delhi International Airport (IATA code: DEL). The system will have a throughput of more than 11,300 pieces of baggage per hour. A baggage X-ray system for full inspection will also be integrated. The total value of the contract amounts to 36 million euros. Completion of the project is scheduled for March 2010.

¦ Menzies Aviation announced that it has secured a ramp handling contract from Air France. The new contract complements the passenger services and aircraft maintenance support services provided by Menzies Aviation to Air France in Houston. The airline operates two flights daily between Paris and Houston using Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft.

¦ ASIG announced it has been awarded ground handling services for LAN’s 19 weekly flights at JFK International Airport (JFK). ASIG is providing the carrier with ramp services, cabin cleaning, cargo transportation and aircraft deicing services. In February, ASIG was also awarded a ground handling contract for the carrier at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

¦ Fraport Cargo Services announced it took over the cargo handling for AirBridgeCargo at Frankfurt Airport Aug. 1, 2008. After intense negotiations, AirBridgeCargo decided in favor of the Fraport subsidiary. Fraport Cargo Services (FCS) will provide the physical and document handling of the flights of the Russian airline within the scope of a long-term handling contract starting August.

¦ INET Airport Systems is pleased to announced the award of a $2.4 million dollar contract with the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. This project requires the supply and installation of 34 air handling units at Terminals A and C, replacing the 20 year plus Teledyne Inet units. These new air handlers will provide state-of-the-art air conditioning to the parked aircraft, and are connected to the chilled water and glycol provided from the airport’s central utility plant. This provision of this new equipment eliminates the need of running the aircraft’s APUs, which results in fuel savings for the airlines and assists the airport in emissions reduction. The project is scheduled to be completed in February 2009.

¦ Swissport International has been awarded a license to provide services at 10 airports in South Africa. The license, which will enter into effect Sept. 1 and will be valid for five years (with the option of a subsequent five-year renewal), will enable Swissport to further expand its present ground handling activities.

¦ Cargologic is expanding its network in Europe by taking over responsibility for the 3,500 sqm warehouse currently operated by its sister company, Airport Cargo Handling B.V. The cargo warehouse at Schiphol-South, Amsterdam, has been renovated over the last two months to prepare it for new and existing customers. The building offers 10 truck docks, is equipped with an ETV system with refrigerated ULD storage spaces, and is located only 300m from the transfer point with fast, undisturbed and secure access to the ramp.

¦ Smiths Detection, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, announced follow-on contracts worth $25.2 million from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for additional Advanced Threat Identification X-Ray (aTiX) systems. The contract awards follow an initial TSA order of $21 million in October 2007, following successful trials at airports across the United States. aTiX is already widely used in UK airports. The TSA is deploying aTiX systems across the country and has already completed checkpoint installations at Albuquerque and Denver International airports.

¦ ASIG® announced today that United Airlines has renewed its interior cabin grooming contract with ASIG at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). ASIG has been providing grooming services to United Airlines at LHR since 2004 and serves approximately 70 aircraft weekly for the carrier.

¦ Global engineering company, Cavotec MSL, announced it has incorporated Cavotec Belgium NV as the newest edition to their international operations. Cavotec Belgium NV has been acting as a branch office for Cavotec MSL for the last two years.

¦ Aviapartner Cargo has recently signed a major contract with Air Transat covering its whole French network for the provision of full cargo handling services. The contract, effective since July 13, covers all of Aviapartner Cargo’s online French stations with full distribution in France. Aviapartner Cargo provides Air Transat with full cargo handling services in Paris-CDG, Lyon, Nice, Marseille, and Basel-Mulhouse: warehousing, ULD build-up and breakdown, inventory control, documentation for import and export, customs clearance, tracing and dangerous goods handling.

People in the News

¦ American Eagle announced changes
in leadership at its San Juan-based Executive Airlines operation in which Ed Criner, Executive’s current president, will return mainland to oversee one of American Eagle’s largest operations at Chicago O’Hare airport, and Pedro Fabregas, vice president - finance and planning for Executive, will become president - Executive Airlines.

¦ Alvy Dodson, the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) federal security director (FSD) at Dallas Love Field Airport, has joined Chicago-based Priva Technologies Inc. as executive vice president of Priva’s Cleared Travel Corp. subsidiary to oversee deployment of its Cleared(R) authentication technology at major airports, Jeff Minushkin, the company’s chairman and CEO announced. The company says its Cleared technology validates credentials of airport employees through the use of high-tech badges and a security platform incorporating the only biometrically enabled microchip for commercial use ever to receive the government’s FIPS140-2 Level 3 certification.

¦ Dubai-based Emirates Airline has appointed Greg Johnson as its new cargo manager of Australia. Johnson joined the Emirates SkyCargo team as New South Wales cargo manager when Emirates launched services to Sydney eight years ago, and was responsible for establishing the cargo arm of the business in Australia’s busiest air freight airport.

¦ Delta Air Lines Inc. announced its plans for the composition of its senior leadership team after it acquires Northwest Airlines Corp. later this year. The Atlanta-based carrier said it expects the transition of Northwest’s operations into Delta to last 12 to 24 months. As previously announced, Delta Chief Executive Richard Anderson will lead the combined airline. Delta said that its president and chief financial officer, Ed Bastian, will remain in that position. Bastian will also be the chief executive and president of Northwest until Delta completely integrates its operations with Northwest.